HEBRON, N.H. (WHDH) — A New Hampshire man who was attacked by an alligator at Disney World as a child is sharing his story.
Paul Santamaria was 8 years old when an alligator came out of the water and grabbed his leg at the Fort Wilderness Resort back in 1986. He said it started to thrash him around and his sister tried to pull him away. Eventually, the alligator let go when his brother threw things at it.
Santamaria said he was shocked to hear of another alligator attack at Disney World. A 2-year-old boy from Nebraska was grabbed by an alligator and dragged into the water at one of the theme park’s resorts Tuesday night. His body was found Wednesday and officials believe he drowned when the alligator pulled him into deeper water.
“From my perspective of it happening, it put a chill up my spine,” said Santamaria. He called himself “extremely lucky” to survive his attack.
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